Mechanism for stamping and feeding a paper tape



Feb. 8, 1955 H. E. HOBBY MECHANISM FOR STAMPING AND FEEDING A PAPER TAPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 23, 1951 &

INVENTOR. HAROLD E. HOBBY.

Feb. 8, 1955 HOBBY 2,701,522

MECHANISM FOR STAMPING AND FEEDING A PAPER TAPE Filed June 23, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

q 4 HAROLD E. HOBBY.

Feb. 8, 1955 H. E. HOBBY 2,701,522

MECHANISM FOR STAMPING AND FEEDING A PAPER TAPE Filed June 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HAROLD E. HOBBY.

ATTY.

United States Patent MECHANISM FOR STAMPING AND FEEDING A PAPER TAPE Harold E. Hobby, Gardner, Mass., assignor to Simplex Time Recorder Co., Gardner, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 23, 1951, Serial No. 233,157

2 Claims. (Cl. 101-288) This invention relates to machines in which a printed record is stamped or printed on a paper tape. Such machines are used for many recording purposes, such as recording time, production, mileage, fuel consumption, entrance or exit of persons, etc. These machines are most commonly used in stores and factories and on vehicles, but may be used in many other places.

It is the general object of my present invention to improve the impression mechanism, and also to improve the feeding mechanism for the paper tape, and furthermore to coordinate the operation of these two mechanisms.

In my improved construction, the paper tape is fed only when the impression mechanism is inactive, and the impression mechanism operates only when the paper tape is at rest.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved stamping and feeding mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the contact points and certain associated parts in a different position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the improved mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of certain parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a centering and positioning device;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of certain paper tape feed devices; and

Fig. 8 is a front elevation, partly in section, of an actuating solenoid and associated parts.

Referring to Fig. 1, my improved stamping and feeding mechanism is mounted in a frame F enclosed in a casing C and having a head H hinged to the frame and containing a plurality of type wheels W from which a record is to be made.

The arrangement of the type wheels and the provision for advancing the same forms no part of the present invention but I have indicated in Fig. 1 certain operating solenoids 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 which may be energized to advance the different type wheels intermittently to indicate fuel consumption, mileage, clock time, and passenger exit or entrance. Such a combination might be used to record data relative to the operation of a bus or coach.

The present invention relates particularly to the mechanism provided for making an impression from the type wheels and for feeding the paper tape on which the record is made.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, a solenoid S is provided which intermittently rocks a crankpin 20 through an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The solenoid S comprises a fixed casing 22 (Fig. 8) in which an actuated member 23 is slidable and rotatable. A disc 24 is secured to the member 23 and is spaced from the end of the solenoid casing 22 by a plurality of balls 25 which are seated in inclined and cam-like segmental and outwardly displaced portions 26 of the disc 24 and in associated and similar recesses in the outer surface of the end wall of the casing 22.

The operating circuit of the solenoid S is not shown but may be closed manually or by the occurrence of 2,701,522 Patented Feb. 8, 1955 any event to be recorded. The particular circuit closing means forms no part of the invention and a sample available circuit is shown at Fig. 6 in Patent No. 2,330,387, issued to applicants assignee on September 23, 1943.

The effect is such that when the solenoid S is energized, the member 23 will be shifted to the right in Fig. 8 to engage clutch plates 30 and 31. The member 23 and associated disc 24 will at the same time be given an angular movement by the rolling action of the balls 25 in the inclined and associated segmental cam recesses. This solenoid structure is commercial and in itself forms no part of my invention.

A spur gear 32 (Fig. 8) is mounted on the shaft 23a of the movable solenoid member 23 and is given intermittent annular advance movements, which in the mechanism shown amounts to one-eighth of a revolution or 45 degrees. An indexing or centering plate 34 (Figs. 6 and 8) is associated with the gear 32, and a positioning lever 36 has a roll 37 engageable in notches 38 in the index plate 34. A spring 39 holds the roll 37 in yielding engagement with the indexing plate.

Paper and ribbon feed A paper tape T (Fig. 2) is drawn from a roll L through the impressing mechanism by a rubber roll 40 which is driven from the gear 32 through an idle gear 41 and a gear 42 associated with the rubber roll 40. A presser roll 44 is mounted on bell-crank levers 45 (Fig. 2) and is moved by a spring 46 to press the paper tape against the rubber roll 40.

Whenever the solenoid S is energized, the gears 32, 41 and 42 are each given one-eighth of a revolution, and the tape T is drawn through the impression mechanism for an established distance. The tape T thereafter passes under a guide-plate 48 (Fig. 7) having a saw-tooth edge by which a portion of the tape may be readily severed when desired. The plate 48 is supported on brackets 49 secured to the frame F.

An ink ribbon 50 is mounted on spools 51 and 52 (Fig. 4) and may be intermittently advanced by any usual ribbon feed mechanism forming no part of the present invention. The paper tape and ink ribbon are forced against the type wheels W by a hammer or platen 55 (Fig. 5) which may have rubber blocks 56 for making the impression. The platen 55 is mounted on a solenoid plunger 60 slidable vertically in a solenoid coil S2. The ribbon feed may be actuated from a crosspin 61 in the upper end of the plunger 60, said pin engaging a swinging slotted arm 62 (Fig. 4) to advance the ink ribbon.

Hammer control The crankpin 20 in the solenoid plunger disc 24 is positioned in a radial slot 65 (Fig. 2) in the end of an arm 66 mounted on a short shaft 67, and to which shaft an upstanding arm 70 is also secured. A latch 71 is pivoted at 72 to the arm 70 and overlies a pair of movable contacts 74 associated with a pair of fixed contacts 75. When the contacts 74 and 75 are engaged, the solenoid circuit is closed to operate the hammer or platen 55.

The latch 71 has a tooth 76 (Fig. 2) in its lower edge, adapted to engage an upward extension 77 of the movable contacts 74.

A bar 80 (Fig. 5) is secured to the under side of the platen 55 and extends outward through a slot 81 in the frame F, so that the outer end 82 of the bar 80 underlies the latch 71. A spring 85 may be attached to the upper end of the arm 70 and will normally hold the latch 71 in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 5.

When the solenoid S is energized, it moves the crankpin 20 downward and at the same time partially rotates the gear 32 to feed the paper tape T. This downward movement of the crankpin withdraws the latch 71 to the forward position shown in Fig. 2, and the parts remain in this position until the operating circuit of the solenoid S is opened.

The spring 85 then moves the arm 70 and latch 71 to the left in Fig. 2 to engage the contacts 74 and 75 and thus close the circuit of the hammer solenoid S2. The part 82 rises with the hammer or platen 55 and disengages the latch 71 from the extension 77 of the movable contacts 74. The spring 85 then restores the crankpin 20 and all associated parts to initial position.

The paper feed thus takes place while the platen is at rest, and the type wheel impression is taken while the paper is at rest, so that blurred impressions and torn tape are avoided.

The mechanism herein described is relatively simple in construction and operation, and has been found satisfactory in practice.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a machine for printing successive records on a paper tape, means for making an impression on the tape, means for feeding the tape between successive impressions thereon, said means being initially in withdrawn position, mechanism to give said feeding means a feeding movement and to thereafter return said feeding means to its initial withdrawn position, a solenoid to operate said impression means, a normally-open circuit for said solenoid and including a movable contact, an arm movable with the feeding means to said withdrawn position, a latch on said arm moved by such withdrawal to a position in which it will engage said movable contact and close said circuit on return movement of said arm, means to effect return movement of said arm and latch and simultaneous movement of said movable contact to close said circuit to make an impression, and means to release said latch from said movable contact on completion of the impression.

2. In a machine for printing successive records on a paper tape, means for making an impression on the tape, oscillating ratchet means for feeding the tape between successive impressions thereon, said feeding means including a solenoid circuit with a normally open switch and adapted to be cyclically operated to be closed and opened to intermittently feed said tape, a second solenoid circuit to operate said impression means, means maintaining said switch normally open in said second circuit, a latch device for closing said second switch means, said latch device being linked to the tape feeding means to be withdrawn from closing relation to said switch means responsive to the forward feeding stroke of said ratchet means, tooth means on said latch to engage said switch means to close same on the reverse movement of said ratchet means on completion of tape feed, thereby causing an impression to be made on the paper tape while the tape is at rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,082,774 Sohm Dec. 30, 1913 1,778,178 Baber Oct. 14, 1930 1,813,869 Templeton et a1 July 7, 1931 1,906,332 Phinney May 2, 1933 1,955,798 Fassmann Apr. 24, 1934 2,003,787 Lake June 4, 1935 2,021,329 Phinney Nov. 19, 1935 2,207,144 Cooper July 9, 1940 2,239,060 Sloan Apr. 22, 1941 2,275,653 Rast Mar. 10, 1942 2,276,111 Spears Mar. 10, 1942 2,304,386 Vahle Dec. 8, 1942 2,326,765 Deane et al Aug. 17, 1943 2,368,001 Cooper Jan. 23, 1945 2,609,946 Helsel Sept. 9, 1952 

